Recently I was temporarily disabled and required a wheelchair for transportation between concourses..Nashville and Chicago O'Hare in particular. I was told it was a free service, but it obviously a tipping situation. I didn't have a clue about the appropriate amount. Can you help me?

This doesn't answer your question..but some time ago I read( I believe in the Wall Street Journal) that skycaps in major airports earn between $75,000 and $125,000 year...big individual tips for only a very short period of assistance.

According to www.avjobs.com/table/airsalry.htm
sky caps need only a high school diploma and earn $13,200 to $20,000 plus tips. These tips are purely voluntary and sky caps may NOT solicit these tips -- a bit different from bus tour operators who all but put a gun to your head! It's QUITE a stretch to think ANYone gets $3000 a DAY in tips, even the maitre d' at the hottest restaurant in New York!

Standard sky cap tipping is $1-2 per bag, depending on the quality of the service. For something like moving you as well as your bags, I'd make it no less than $5. But again, it's entirely voluntary on your part.

I usually tip $1.oo a bag. If I were disabled I would feel kindly to someone who was kind enough to transport me as part of his/her job and would reciprocate monetarily for their gentlemanly role. (Gentlewomanly?) Only Barbara Hutton had someone carry her around as a full time job as far as I know.

I have no experience (fortunately) in needing this service, but my gut feeling is that a tip of $3-$5 would seem appropriate.